The first week of March is Hearing Awareness Week. And while many conversations may be held about hearing loss that is often linked to getting older, one form of hearing loss that is often overlooked is tinnitus. Tinnitus is a condition in which a person hears a constant ringing or humming in their ears, which can often block out other sounds, creating a form of hearing loss. No one else can hear it, so the person suffering from tinnitus often suffers without anyone else noticing.
Understanding what it is, the symptoms, and effects can help senior home care and family caregivers support their elderly loved ones who may be experiencing tinnitus.
What Does Tinnitus Sound Like?
The majority of people with tinnitus are the only ones who can hear the noises in their eardrums, and those noises can range in intensity and frequency. The noise heard is often described in a myriad of ways, including:
- Ringing
- Buzzing
- Whooshing
- Roaring
- Hissing
- Humming
- Clicking
It can be a softer sound that’s only heard when external noise is at its lowest, or it can be loud and actually make hearing other sounds difficult.
Tinnitus Causes
Tinnitus often doesn’t have an exact cause that can be labeled as being the cause of it, but some health conditions do increase the risk of tinnitus.
- Hearing Loss. The most common loss, especially when combined with age, is tinnitus, which occurs when the hairs that transmit sound within the ears become damaged. Age can cause those hairs to become bent or broken, and they may start to “leak” random electrical impulses or sounds to the brain, making the person hear a noise that isn’t actually there.
- Upper respiratory infection or ear infection. With extra mucus and fluid in these areas with a bad cold or flu, those fluids can build up, making the pressure in the ear change and leading to tinnitus.
- Excess earwax can have the same effect as an infection by blocking the flow of air and building up too much pressure within the eardrum.
- Neck and head injuries. Trauma to the head or neck may affect the hearing nerves, leading to tinnitus. It is often only in one ear and not both.
- Some medications, especially when taken at high doses, can worsen tinnitus. Common culprits include some antibiotics, cancer drugs, and antidepressants.
- Some health conditions can increase the risk of tinnitus or, if a person already has it, make it louder and more severe. Those health conditions include diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems, and anemia.
How Tinnitus Might Affect Your Loved One’s Daily Living
While it is not considered a serious health condition and rarely leads to other health problems, constant, loud tinnitus can have serious effects on how your loved one manages their daily life. It can even reach a point where they might need senior home care assistance in some areas of their life.
Some people with tinnitus might also struggle with:
- Problems concentrating
- Depression
- Irritability
- Struggling to hear important conversations or noises
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Headaches
- Memory Issues
If your loved one has found that their tinnitus is affecting their ability to complete some needed daily living activities, a senior home care provider can help. Senior home care providers step in and assist where others struggle so they can continue to live independent lives.
From helping with connecting with others to remembering important appointments, a senior home care provider can make sure your loved one’s tinnitus doesn’t decrease their quality of life.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care in Buckeye, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Blessings! for Seniors Companion Care today. Call (623) 594-0819
Blessings! for Seniors Companion Care is a top provider of home care services in Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale, Peoria, Litchfield Park, Sun City, Sun City West, Tolleson, Phoenix, Youngtown, Surprise, and surrounding areas.
Blessings for Seniors makes it possible for older adults to enjoy the comforts of their own home for as long as possible. We offer a customized care plan that includes services such as; Hourly Senior Home Care, 24-Hour Home Care, Dementia Care, Personal Care and Companion Care. Also ask us about our Veterans’ Home Care program.
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